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What happened?
Two foremen were assessing a scope of work roughly 20 feet (6 m) above grade on a scaffold platform.
A foreman made her way to the ladder and started descending.
After descending 5 or 6 steps, she missed a rung, causing her to lose balance.
She could not regain control and fell approximately 15 feet (4.5 metres) to the ground.
Emergency services were called. The worker was hospitalised with broken ankles and heels, and a dislocated and broken leg.
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Why did it happen?
What went right?
- Scaffold ladder met safety policy requirements, fully approved and compliant with applicable regulations.
- Weather conditions were dry and clear.
- Work boots and gloves were in very good condition and properly donned.
So what went wrong?
- Most ladder injuries happen when descending ladders.
- The foreman didn’t maintain 3 points of contact.
- She skipped a rung on the ladder (either by mistake or on purpose).
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What did they learn?
Maintain three points of contact.
Do not carry tools or other materials in your hands while using ladders.
Fully concentrate on descending the ladder. Do not rush or get distracted.
Follow local fall protection or use of resistant constraints.
Where practical, install platform decks or drop off access point for extended vertical ladders.
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Ask yourself or your crew
What other actions could have been taken?
Why do you think this person fell?
What factors could affect us and cause us to fall when using ladders? What can we do to solve them?
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Published on 02/04/19
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A foreman made her way to the ladder and started descending. She missed a rung and fell approximately 15 feet (4.5 metres) to the ground.
